MBTA Communities law sparks tensions between urban and suburban growth goals

The MBTA Communities Act, signed in 2021, requires transit-adjacent towns to allow more multifamily housing units near stations.
The law categorizes communities into tiers based on size and transit service, with different rezoning requirements for each tier.
Rapid transit communities have the greatest obligation to rezone and must reach 25% multifamily housing stock by end of 2023.
Adjacent small towns have the lightest requirements, only needing 5% multifamily units by end of 2025.
The law has led to clashes between urban and suburban goals for housing and development.